Cherry Blossoms of Japan

Day 1 - Saturday 28 March 2020

Melbourne - Tokyo (Meals Inflight)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.  Your tour hostess and fellow travellers will meet you at the designated departure point at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Tokyo. Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.  Welcome to Japan, arriving into Tokyo early evening with a transfer to our hotel. 

Overnight - Shinagawa Prince Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 - Sunday 29 March 2020

Tokyo Sightseeing (B,L)

Today we'll start of full day tour of Tokyo City.   Tokyo is the capital of Japan, a city with 12 million residents and 3 million further commuters from neighbouring cities daily, for a total of 15 million people on most days. Famous for its spectacular architecture, futuristic displays, upmarket shopping and unique fashion sense.  

We take advantage of the Cherry Blossom Season with a visit to Ueno Park for some beautiful views.  Ueno Park is home to many art, history, science and technology buildings and is one of the best places to view Cherry Blossoms.  We'll then visit Asakusa in the old part of Tokyo city.  Asakusa is one of the most celebrated temples in Tokyo.  We then visit Nakamise Shopping Arcade, a great opportunity to pick uo some trinkets and local souvenirs. 

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, before more cherry blossom viewing at Chidorigafuchi and Hamarikyu Garden. Today’s sightseeing finishes at our hotel mid afternoon with the rest of the day and dinner at leisure.

Overnight - Shinagawa Prince Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 - Monday 30 March 2020

Sightseeing in Tokyo (B,D)

Today, after breakfast we will be taken to Sogetsu Kaikan for a flower arrangement session (ikebana) and Japanese etiquette lesson.  We have the rest of the day free to explore the many shops in our area. 

This evening we’ll enjoy dinner on board a Yakatabune (Japanese style houseboat), including a cruise on Tokyo Bay.

Overnight - Shinagawa Prince Hotel (or similar)

Day 4 - Tuesday 31 March 2020

Tokyo - Hakone (B,L,D)

This morning, we'll be visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, the largest wholesale fish market in the world. Following this, we'll take part in a Sushi Making lesson, conducted by a professional sushi chef.   

This afternoon we'll return to our hotel to collect our luggage and make our way to Hakone, a hot spring resort area on the outskirts of Mt Fuji. 

Overnight - Yumoto Fujiya Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 - Wednesday 1 April 2020

Hakone (B,L,D)

Today a full day tour of Hakone.  Firstly a stroll along the Old Cedar Avenue through the Hakone-machi.  This is followed by lunch then a cruise on Lake Ashi where, on clear days the view of Mt Fuji is excellent from here.  After our cruise, we'll take a ride on the Hakone Railway (gondola) across Owakudani valley, open areas in the crust revealing hot spring steam and smoke, this is a famous attraction here.  Our day finishes with a visit to Hakone Open Air Museum, with world famous art works on dispaly in meticulously landscaped gardens.

Overnight - Yumoto Fujiya Hotel (or similar)

Day 6 - Thursday 2 April 2020

Yamanouchi (B,L,D)

After breakfast and checking out of our hotel today, we will be taken by coach to the town of Yamanouchi (lunch included along the way), famous for the Japanese Macaque, or more commonly known as “Japanese Snow Monkey”.  Jigokudani Park, located in the Kanbayashi Onsen area in Yamanouchi is the main attraction and we will be taken here to see the snow monkeys bathing in the hot springs among the snow. 

Tonight, we will be experiencing our first traditional “Ryokan” (Japanese guest house) stay, at Biyu no Yado. Our room will be a tatami mat Japanese room with futons to sleep on. Service will be exceptional, and a beautiful traditional Japanese banquet dinner and breakfast await. We will also have the opportunity to use the natural hot springs with 2 private hot springs available for our use on the rooftop. 

Overnight – Biyu no Yado Japanese Guest House (or similar)

Day 7 - Friday 3 April 2020

Yamanouchi - Takayama (B,L,D)

After breakfast today we will travel to the town of Takayama in the Japan Alps. Lunch is included at a local restaurant along the way.  Takayama is a countryside farming town, famous for its traditional Japanese preserved architecture. Takayama has been well known in the past for producing some of Japan’s best architects and builders, and as such, part of the city has been preserved as National Treasures. Hida Beef, is also well known throughout Japan, rivalling even Kobe beef as some of the highest quality beef available. 

The rest of the day is free at leisure in Takayama with dinner included at the hotel tonight.  

Overnight - Hida Hotel Plaza (or similar)

Day 8 - Saturday 4 April 2020

Takayama (B,L)

Today we will enjoy a full day guided tour of Takayama. First up will be a visit to Takayama Morning Market, a market where farmers’ wives from neighbouring villages come each morning to hawk fresh produce.  Following this will visit the Hida Folk Village, a museum that will allow us to learn about country farming life in the Japan Alps.  After lunch at a local restaurant, we will have the afternoon free to stroll around Takayama or relax at the hot springs at our hotel.  

Later this afternoon our guide will take us on a stroll around the Kami Sannomachi “Preserved Housing” district, returning to our hotel with dinner at leisure.  We highly recommend a barbecue Hida Beef dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Hilda Hotel Plaza (or similar)

Day 9 - Sunday 5 April 2020

Takayama - Kanazawa (B,L)

Today, we will travel to Kanazawa by coach, with a stopover in Gokayama to participate in “washi” (Japanese paper) making. The region of Gokayama is arguably the most famous in Japan for its washi.  Lunch is included at a local restaurant, before arriving in Kanazawa mid afternoon.  

Kanazawa is a city famous for Kenrokuen Garden, samurai heritage, and cultural goods production, some of which we will have the opportunity to experience.  The rest of our day is at leisure to further explore Kanazawa.

Overnight - Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa (or similar)

Day 10 - Monday 6 April 2020

Kanazawa (B,L)

Today we will have a full day tour of Kanazawa.   First stop of the day will be a gold leaf museum, followed by the Wajima Lacquerware Museum. Kanazawa is famous for producing these cultural goods, along with Kutaniyaki Pottery, and silver leaf; in fact, Kanazawa produces 99% of the gold leaf used throughout Japan. 

Lunch is included today at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, before a visit to Kenrokuen Garden.  Kenrokuen Garden is considered one of the 3 best landscaped gardens in Japan, and will likely be one of the most beautiful we will ever see.  After this, we will visit the Nagamachi Bukeyashiki, a preserved samurai housing district in Kanazawa; Kanazawa formerly rising to prominence under the rule of the Maeda samurai family. Touring concludes today at our hotel late afternoon.

Overnight - Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa (or similar)

Day 11 - Tuesday 7 April 2020

Kanazawa - Kyoto (B,L,D)

This morning, we will travel to Kyoto by coach, with lunch included at a local restaurant along the way.  In Kyoto, we will participate in a traditional tea ceremony, before being taken to our hotel at mid afternoon.

We will have free time at the hotel until after which we will be taken to a traditional Japanese restaurant for a Japanese banquet dinner including an exclusive meet & greet with an apprentice geisha. We will return to our hotel at around 8 PM.

Overnight - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande (or similar)

Day 12 - Wednesday 8 April 2020

Kyoto (B,L)

This morning, we will be taken to Sagano Bamboo Grove, an area reminiscent of feudal era Japanese films. A fun Kimono fitting and a stroll through this area has been arranged for us, what a truly unique experience.  Lunch is included today at a local restaurant, following Sagano. 

The afternoon we will visit various sites in Kyoto, including Heian Jingu Shrine (a famous Cherry Blossom viewing spot), Ryoanji Temple (World Heritage listed temple, famous for its Zen garden and Weeping cherry blossom trees), and Golden Pavilion (gold leaf covered pagoda, World Heritage site, and former shogun villa converted into a Buddhist Temple).

Today’s touring concludes around 5 PM back at our hotel with dinner at leisure.

Overnight - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande (or similar)

Day 13 - Thursday 9 April 2020

Kyoto (B,L)

There will be further cherry blossom viewing today at the World Heritage site of Nijo Castle (former Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ruling party of Japan prior to the current royal family). Lunch is included today at a local restaurant, with a special treat of “Green Tea Fondue” at Jouvencelle in Gion.  This afternoon, we will take part in a special Yuzen (Kimono silk) dyeing program, with further cherry blossom viewing at the World Heritage site of Kiyomizu Temple (constructed without nails, overhanging a cliff with a great view of Kyoto city). 

Today’s touring concludes around 5 PM back at our hotel with dinner at leisure.

Overnight - Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande (or similar)

Day 14 - Friday 10 April 2020

Kyoto - Miyajima (B,D)

This morning our main luggage will be couriered overnight to our hotel in Osaka, while we take a detour to the island of Miyajima. We will require an overnight bag as we will travel by train and ferry accross to Miyajima Island. This island is famous for its natural scenery, many wild deer and for Itsukushima Shrine. The view from Itsukushima Shrine is considered one of the best 3 in Japan and we will visit here as part of our touring this afternoon. Our touring today concludes at our ryokan in Miyajima, our second for this tour.

Overnight - Hotel Miyarikyu (or similar)

Day 15 - Saturday 11 April 2020

Hiroshima - Osaka (B,D)

Today, we will head to Hiroshima on the way back to the Osaka region.  We'll visit the Peace Memorial Museum as well as the Atomic Bomb Dome.  Lunch at our own expense today before travelling back to Osaka by bullet train. 

Our accommodation will be in the popular Shinsaibashi area in Osaka, famous for its “Eat-til-you-drop” food culture, and is arguably the best place to finish up our fantastic tour. Diversity of cuisine is abundant here, as are wonderful shopping opportunities. We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant and reminisce on great times spent with new friends. 

Overnight - Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba (or similar)

Day 16 - Sunday 12 April 2020

Osaka (B)

An early morning transfer to the airport from Kansai to Melbourne.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment of our airlines as we head towards home.

Day 17 - Monday 13 April 2020

Arrive Home

Welcome Home!  Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure!